The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-09-21
MY Adnirer.

My first novel had not been out many
months when it came to my ears that
some one living at Shepherds bush had
read it and liked it. / was young
man, and so far had never felt sure of
an admirer. While my book was still
in the press-I don't do this now-I
had written good many letters to the
admirers whom | was waiting for.
These varied according as the admirer
was a young lady or a man of the world,
or young gentleman who thought of
entering the profession of letters. First
| supposed them to write to me saying
they hoped | would excuse their TAX
ing the liberty of thanking me for the
most memorable novel of decade.
Then l replied, excusing them. Some
times they wrote me for my autograph,
which | sent off at once. AS for my
admirer at Shepherds bush, it seemed
as if we were destined not to meet. 1t
was rather irritating to hear that he
had once thought of writing to me but
concluded that it would not do.
| heard of him from two distinct
sources and afterwards from third.
My first informant was lady living at
Chaplain, who had been told of him by
a common friend. Unfortunately she
had not made any special inquiries at
the time, and could not tell me what in
the book he liked best. | fancied it
would be the scene at the lake, where
the hero and heroine had to remain on
the mountain all night, shrouded in
mist. She knew nothing, either, of the
mans personal appearance and had
forgotten to ask his name. Had his
name been known to me | might have
got his address in directory and gone
to look at the house. My other in
formant was man living at Shepherds
bush himself He came into town by
omnibus every morning, and on two &C.
casions he had travelled with a gentle
man who had spoken about my story.
He was stoutish gentleman of mid
die age and wore short beard. He
was probably in business, as he did not
have the appearance of literary man
or an artist. He had not travelled by
the omnibus for the last week. 1 had
no doubt whatever that this was the
same man, and it was very annoying to
find that other people were meeting
him while / could not even get look
at him.
Judged by the description of him, he
was not my ideal admirer. He was
ruddy of complexion, for instance, and
should naturally have preferred him
pale. However, you cannot have every
thing you wish for. 1t is notorious,
too, among us writers of fiction that
ideals are always disappointing. In my
novels l generally describe my heroine
as marrying the very opposite of her
ideal, and uice versa. l confess that
his sex did not satisfy me at first My
novel depended for its success chiefly
on the character of the heroine, and |
felt that ladies only would understand
how subtly she was drawn. Still when
you come to think of it, it is perhaps
more fattering to have male admirer
than female one. Ladies are easily
impressed, men but seldom. Here evil
IDENTITY was business man who had
grown out of the sentimental period of
life, and was doubtless practical rather
than imaginative, so taken by my story
that he could not keep from speaking
about it to strangers on the top of an
omnibus.
A still greater compliment followed.
One day heard through my publish
ers-I admit | had been questioning
them-that one person had ordered six
copies of the novel. / kept my coun-
tenance and asked, with apparent calm
ness, who it was, without, however,
expecting that they would be able to
track my admirer for weeks, and if they
had said that he bought the books across
the counter and took them away him
self l should have accepted it as my
usual luck But he had not done so.
He had left name and address for the
parcel to be sent to. The address
was - - -, Shepherds bush, and
the name was Banks. That evening,
having nothing particular to do, took
the underground to Shepherds bush.
thought of walking at first, but that
would have taken long time, and |
wanted to be there as soon as possible.
You would have thought that every
one | asked to direct me to the address
was in league against me, for no one
seemed to know it. | was not to be
baked, however, and presently found
it for myself. 1t was one of two houses
called an avenue. / liked the looks of
the house. There were pots of flowers
in the window, and the door stood open,
showing two umbrellas and an overcoat
in the hall. A beggar happened to pass
me at this moment and | gave him a
sixpence. / would have stood and
looked at the house for some time, but
l felt that the people in the other
houses were staring at me, so ! walked
back and forward in lettering way,
glancing up and down the street occa-
sionally and consulting my watch, as if
was waiting for a friend. All this
time kept an eye on the house, and at
last l saw a gentleman come out. My
heart beat fast, but the next moment il
sank within me. This was not my adj
mirer. Evidently he was doctor
What had he been doing in that house,
/ saw it all in flash; my admirer was
i'll. Very likely he would die just wher
had run him to earth. Was there ever
such an unfortunate person as myself
He did not die; perhaps it would have
been as well if he had, for he was very
disappointing man on acquaintance
1t turned out that the reason he liked
my novel was entirely because one o.
the characters happened to be called
William Banks. His name was William
Banks also. The coincidence strucl
him as by far the most amusing ant